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Please Tell Me
After a year in captivity, a kidnapped child escapes―only to reveal horrific truths that lead her psychologist on a race against time...
When eight-year-old Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road a year after her abduction, the world awaits her harrowing story. But Kathy doesn’t say a word. Traumatized by her ordeal, she doesn’t speak at all, not even to her own parents.
Child therapist Robin Hart is the only one who’s had success connecting with the girl. Robin has been using play therapy to help Kathy process her memories. But as their work continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a grim turn: a doll looks to stab another doll, a tiny figurine is chained to a plastic toy couch. All of these horrifying moments, enacted within a Victorian doll house. Every session, another toy dies.
But the most disturbing detail?
Kathy seems to be playacting real unsolved murders. Soon Robin wonders if Kathy not only holds the key to the murders of the past but if she knows something about the murders of the future.
Can Robin unlock the secrets in Kathy’s brain and stop a serial killer before he strikes again? Or is Robin’s work with Kathy putting her in the killer’s sights?
When eight-year-old Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road a year after her abduction, the world awaits her harrowing story. But Kathy doesn’t say a word. Traumatized by her ordeal, she doesn’t speak at all, not even to her own parents.
Child therapist Robin Hart is the only one who’s had success connecting with the girl. Robin has been using play therapy to help Kathy process her memories. But as their work continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a grim turn: a doll looks to stab another doll, a tiny figurine is chained to a plastic toy couch. All of these horrifying moments, enacted within a Victorian doll house. Every session, another toy dies.
But the most disturbing detail?
Kathy seems to be playacting real unsolved murders. Soon Robin wonders if Kathy not only holds the key to the murders of the past but if she knows something about the murders of the future.
Can Robin unlock the secrets in Kathy’s brain and stop a serial killer before he strikes again? Or is Robin’s work with Kathy putting her in the killer’s sights?
372 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2023
7955 people are currently reading
27089 people want to read
About the author
Mike Omer
21 books2,297 followersMike Omer is the author of the Zoe Bentley Mystery Series, the Abby Mullen Thrillers, and more. In the past, he's been a journalist, a game developer, and the CEO of the company Loadingames. He lives in Ireland, and is married to a woman who diligently forces him to live his dream. He is the father of an angel, a pixie, and a leprechaun.
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
You can contact Mike by sending him an e-mail to mikeomerauthor@gmail.com
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
You can contact Mike by sending him an e-mail to mikeomerauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,114 reviews
November 26, 2023
Kathy Stone, a young girl who went missing over a year ago and was presumed by most to be dead, turns up walking barefoot on the side of a dark road with bloodied soles one night. When discovered by a passing motorist, she’s traumatized and mute, unable to tell anyone what happened in words or writing.
That was the opening, and it had my attention immediately!
Kathy’s mother, Claire, reaches out to Robin Hart, a former classmate and psychologist to help her daughter. During weeks of play therapy, Kathy draws alarming pictures and zeroes in on a Victorian dollhouse and assortment of six dolls, including one who she mimes violently harming the other dolls in a variety of disturbing ways. When her play mirrors several recent murders that occurred, Robin reaches out to Detective Nathaniel King.
Are the murders connected? Is there a serial killer on the loose?
Things get even more complicated when one of Kathy’s play scenarios seems to predict a murder that happens AFTER she returned. How did she know? Furthermore, who do the final two dolls … a child and a woman … represent? One thing is clear: Playtime is starting to get very real!
I’ll be honest: I was prepared to dislike this book after the COVID pandemic was first mentioned in Chapter 2 (and then repeatedly throughout). The author had a purpose for it that played into the storyline, but it felt a little gimmicky. I also found Robin’s therapy technique of narrating Kathy’s actions back to her a bit bizarre to listen to, even if that is an actual practice. Those minor issues aside, I was surprised by how much I got sucked into this story!
Omer did a nice job creating the red herrings and sense of visceral unease that put my senses on high alert! He interspersed a few short chapters from the viewpoints of those involved in Kathy’s disappearance, while still somehow not giving the whole surprise away. Yes, the events leading up to the ending and the ending itself strayed a little close to Sillyville, as far as believability, but does anyone actually read thrillers for realism? I recommend not taking it too seriously and just have fun with it!
I know some reviewers who are familiar with this author’s prior work complained that it didn’t feel like the same author wrote it, but since this is my first book by him, I wasn’t burdened by comparisons, so it worked well for me. I’d read him again!
★★★ ½ (rounded to 4)
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and author Mike Omer for this DRC to honestly review. It’s due for publication December 1, 2023.
That was the opening, and it had my attention immediately!
Kathy’s mother, Claire, reaches out to Robin Hart, a former classmate and psychologist to help her daughter. During weeks of play therapy, Kathy draws alarming pictures and zeroes in on a Victorian dollhouse and assortment of six dolls, including one who she mimes violently harming the other dolls in a variety of disturbing ways. When her play mirrors several recent murders that occurred, Robin reaches out to Detective Nathaniel King.
Are the murders connected? Is there a serial killer on the loose?
Things get even more complicated when one of Kathy’s play scenarios seems to predict a murder that happens AFTER she returned. How did she know? Furthermore, who do the final two dolls … a child and a woman … represent? One thing is clear: Playtime is starting to get very real!
I’ll be honest: I was prepared to dislike this book after the COVID pandemic was first mentioned in Chapter 2 (and then repeatedly throughout). The author had a purpose for it that played into the storyline, but it felt a little gimmicky. I also found Robin’s therapy technique of narrating Kathy’s actions back to her a bit bizarre to listen to, even if that is an actual practice. Those minor issues aside, I was surprised by how much I got sucked into this story!
Omer did a nice job creating the red herrings and sense of visceral unease that put my senses on high alert! He interspersed a few short chapters from the viewpoints of those involved in Kathy’s disappearance, while still somehow not giving the whole surprise away. Yes, the events leading up to the ending and the ending itself strayed a little close to Sillyville, as far as believability, but does anyone actually read thrillers for realism? I recommend not taking it too seriously and just have fun with it!
I know some reviewers who are familiar with this author’s prior work complained that it didn’t feel like the same author wrote it, but since this is my first book by him, I wasn’t burdened by comparisons, so it worked well for me. I’d read him again!
★★★ ½ (rounded to 4)
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and author Mike Omer for this DRC to honestly review. It’s due for publication December 1, 2023.
April 24, 2023
My Rating: 1⭐️ disappointed and unwelcome star… what the heck was this??!!??
Kathy Stone has been missing for a year and almost everyone has all but given up. One day though she turns up scratched up, with no shoes - SURPRISE I’M BACK!!!
Kathy is traumatised and won’t talk, so her mum takes her to Robin a child psychologist who uses play therapy to get Kathy to tell he story… what she play acts terrifies Robin…
Does Kathy hold the key to a bunch of unsolved murders??
OH my GOD!!! let me start off by saying this author is an auto-request, auto-buy for me. Always… I love his books and series and I have read almost all of his back catalogue and with one exception they are all really good. WHAT HAPPENED HERE!!!! I am devastated. This was just so terrible… I didn’t think I would make it through.
First let’s start with the writing… it did not feel like Mike Omer… although I am sure it was… but this felt like a really flat, hand holdy debut novel by an author who is trying to bust into the scene. It was extra wordy, so repetitive and so much unnecessary story. I am shocked to announce that this is under 400 pages because it felt like 900 pages to me… I was dragging my ass through this one like I was under duress.
It even seem rather childish at times, and don’t get me wrong I am down with comedic relief and humour in thrillers but this was poorly crafted fart jokes and it was not thrilling in any part of this book…
Quite literally a fart joke…
The woman next in line was Tara. Who was nice. Robin liked Tara. They’d done yoga for two years. And one time they’d bonded because a woman in front of them in class had farted throughout the entire session, nearly killing them. But Robin couldn’t handle other people at the moment.
Really… I am lost for words… from an author who writes some of my fave characters… this is what we got here… fart jokes and sentences from primary school. Sorry I am being harsh but my reading experience was in tatters.
Tara strikes again…
“Um, Tara, what did you hear about —“
“Hey, Tara!” A voice from behind them. “Oh, and Robin! What’s up?”
It was Ellie, the waitress from Jimmie’s Cafe. She stood behind them, hugging a handful of items in her hands.
“Hey, Ellie!” Tara’s tone shifted, got higher. “What up, girl.”
What up, Girl? Was Tara trying to act younger for Ellie? Robin smiled at Ellie. “Hey Ellie, how are you?”
“I’m good. Um… this is so stupid … Robin, would you mind if I put my stuff in your cart for now? I thought I could manage without a cart, but it turns out I have way to many items.”
WHYYYYYYY to any of that… that was completely and utterly pointless… also What up girl!!! Also Hugging items in her hands… no shit… how else would she be holding the… JFC. No… this author did not write the Zoe Bentley series or the Abbey Mullins series that I loved so much. Please say it isn’t true.
I get it you’re thinking weeeeelllll you’re reviews aren’t all that articulate KARLY what do you know… well here’s the thing:
1. I am not making money off these bad boys… and I am not an author
2. I know what I don’t like and this is a review site so I am reviewing the heck out of this…
Don’t get me started on Robin either… she is supposed to be a trained professional… a psychologist for the young minds but she is so childish it is not funny. She has issues with her mother… which I get her mum is a real piece of work… but she knows she is walking into a hostile situation so instead of taking the calm she takes her hostile self… it doesn’t make any sense… so when she blasts into her mums house and just steals her prized Dollhouse while her mum is in the shower.. I am like really… you’re doing this. Shes so happy with herself though and while shes admiring it she thinks this to herself…
Robin’s own dollhouse seemed like a shithole next to the carved wooden Victorian mansion she’d taken from her mother.
A SHITHOLE!!!! And I swear if she talked any more about this dollhouse the whole story would have been about that.
Ok I am nearly done… in the end the killer was lame and the “twist” was annoying. We did get the annoying play by play wrap up which was as good as a Dear John letter to the reader making sure there was literally no imagination required to find out what happened.
Overall: don’t make me say it… no I do not recommend this book. BUT if you like popcorn thrillers with little substance and lifeless characters are your jam, then get stuck into this… BUT there is so much more wrong with this, than there is right that I cannot think of a single thing I liked about it. I am going to be brutal now (cause I haven’t been already) I don’t even like the cover… maybe its me… but what I do know is this was not for me.
I will still give this author another go but I don’t think I will rush into his next book with as much energy as I did with this one I will step cautiously. Fingers crossed for next time.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for my brutally honest opinion. I am sorry I didn’t like this more but I gotta be honest.
Kathy Stone has been missing for a year and almost everyone has all but given up. One day though she turns up scratched up, with no shoes - SURPRISE I’M BACK!!!
Kathy is traumatised and won’t talk, so her mum takes her to Robin a child psychologist who uses play therapy to get Kathy to tell he story… what she play acts terrifies Robin…
Does Kathy hold the key to a bunch of unsolved murders??
OH my GOD!!! let me start off by saying this author is an auto-request, auto-buy for me. Always… I love his books and series and I have read almost all of his back catalogue and with one exception they are all really good. WHAT HAPPENED HERE!!!! I am devastated. This was just so terrible… I didn’t think I would make it through.
First let’s start with the writing… it did not feel like Mike Omer… although I am sure it was… but this felt like a really flat, hand holdy debut novel by an author who is trying to bust into the scene. It was extra wordy, so repetitive and so much unnecessary story. I am shocked to announce that this is under 400 pages because it felt like 900 pages to me… I was dragging my ass through this one like I was under duress.
It even seem rather childish at times, and don’t get me wrong I am down with comedic relief and humour in thrillers but this was poorly crafted fart jokes and it was not thrilling in any part of this book…
Quite literally a fart joke…
The woman next in line was Tara. Who was nice. Robin liked Tara. They’d done yoga for two years. And one time they’d bonded because a woman in front of them in class had farted throughout the entire session, nearly killing them. But Robin couldn’t handle other people at the moment.
Really… I am lost for words… from an author who writes some of my fave characters… this is what we got here… fart jokes and sentences from primary school. Sorry I am being harsh but my reading experience was in tatters.
Tara strikes again…
“Um, Tara, what did you hear about —“
“Hey, Tara!” A voice from behind them. “Oh, and Robin! What’s up?”
It was Ellie, the waitress from Jimmie’s Cafe. She stood behind them, hugging a handful of items in her hands.
“Hey, Ellie!” Tara’s tone shifted, got higher. “What up, girl.”
What up, Girl? Was Tara trying to act younger for Ellie? Robin smiled at Ellie. “Hey Ellie, how are you?”
“I’m good. Um… this is so stupid … Robin, would you mind if I put my stuff in your cart for now? I thought I could manage without a cart, but it turns out I have way to many items.”
WHYYYYYYY to any of that… that was completely and utterly pointless… also What up girl!!! Also Hugging items in her hands… no shit… how else would she be holding the… JFC. No… this author did not write the Zoe Bentley series or the Abbey Mullins series that I loved so much. Please say it isn’t true.
I get it you’re thinking weeeeelllll you’re reviews aren’t all that articulate KARLY what do you know… well here’s the thing:
1. I am not making money off these bad boys… and I am not an author
2. I know what I don’t like and this is a review site so I am reviewing the heck out of this…
Don’t get me started on Robin either… she is supposed to be a trained professional… a psychologist for the young minds but she is so childish it is not funny. She has issues with her mother… which I get her mum is a real piece of work… but she knows she is walking into a hostile situation so instead of taking the calm she takes her hostile self… it doesn’t make any sense… so when she blasts into her mums house and just steals her prized Dollhouse while her mum is in the shower.. I am like really… you’re doing this. Shes so happy with herself though and while shes admiring it she thinks this to herself…
Robin’s own dollhouse seemed like a shithole next to the carved wooden Victorian mansion she’d taken from her mother.
A SHITHOLE!!!! And I swear if she talked any more about this dollhouse the whole story would have been about that.
Ok I am nearly done… in the end the killer was lame and the “twist” was annoying. We did get the annoying play by play wrap up which was as good as a Dear John letter to the reader making sure there was literally no imagination required to find out what happened.
Overall: don’t make me say it… no I do not recommend this book. BUT if you like popcorn thrillers with little substance and lifeless characters are your jam, then get stuck into this… BUT there is so much more wrong with this, than there is right that I cannot think of a single thing I liked about it. I am going to be brutal now (cause I haven’t been already) I don’t even like the cover… maybe its me… but what I do know is this was not for me.
I will still give this author another go but I don’t think I will rush into his next book with as much energy as I did with this one I will step cautiously. Fingers crossed for next time.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for my brutally honest opinion. I am sorry I didn’t like this more but I gotta be honest.
October 25, 2023
Please Tell Me is a different sort of thriller. A young girl is abducted and is missing for a year. Then, she turns up on the side of the road, shoeless and mute. Robin Hart is a child psychologist who is brought in to help 8 year old Kathy process her memories. As the story progresses, Kathy begins to draw disturbing scenes that mirror actual recent murders.
Omer takes his time setting the stage. He draws out not just Robin, but both parents in detail. I appreciated the tension between the parents as they disagreed on how to draw Kathy out. There are multiple sources of their conflict as the story progresses. Not just how to act around Kathy but whether to allow the police to “interview” her. This helped provide more depth than the standard thriller.
Robin is also dealing with a passive aggressive mother who would have tempted a saint to murder. It gave depth to her character that even though she’s a therapist she still struggles with how to deal with this hellacious woman.
Omer obviously did his research on how therapists work (helps that his parents and sister are all psychologists). Those scenes felt totally real. As Omer says in the Acknowledgments, therapists “do not inhabit crime scenes or investigate forensic evidence.” So, I was impressed by his ability to keep the story moving forward at a steady pace. And he totally caught me flat footed with the ending.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
Omer takes his time setting the stage. He draws out not just Robin, but both parents in detail. I appreciated the tension between the parents as they disagreed on how to draw Kathy out. There are multiple sources of their conflict as the story progresses. Not just how to act around Kathy but whether to allow the police to “interview” her. This helped provide more depth than the standard thriller.
Robin is also dealing with a passive aggressive mother who would have tempted a saint to murder. It gave depth to her character that even though she’s a therapist she still struggles with how to deal with this hellacious woman.
Omer obviously did his research on how therapists work (helps that his parents and sister are all psychologists). Those scenes felt totally real. As Omer says in the Acknowledgments, therapists “do not inhabit crime scenes or investigate forensic evidence.” So, I was impressed by his ability to keep the story moving forward at a steady pace. And he totally caught me flat footed with the ending.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
November 12, 2024
Wow! What a shocking and suspenseful thriller! Mike Omer knows how to build suspense, develop characters, add action and atmosphere, and keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Please Tell Me
is the third book I’ve read by him and they have all been outstanding.
After fifteen months in captivity, young Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road barefoot. Traumatized by events, she won’t speak to anyone. Her parents take her to child therapist Robin Hart, who uses play therapy to connect with her. However, as the therapy continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a dark turn as figurines in the doll house die one by one and session after session. On top of this they resemble real unsolved murders. Can Robin help Kathy and help the police stop a serial killer?
Robin is sleep deprived, perceptive, loves her job, and is a great child psychologist. However, she can be emotional at times and feels a need to placate people who have authority or power. This made her relatable and realistic. Rather than being a perfect protagonist, she has faults just like everyone else. Kathy is traumatized by the events of her captivity, but she’s also intelligent, and will answer yes or no questions with a nod or a shake of her head.
The start of the novel is heart-wrenching and immediately pulled me into the story. While I don’t usually like flashback scenes, there were several in this novel that went back to the day of Kathy’s disappearance. The author handled the transitions well and they’re well identified. He also did a lot of research talking with family members who are psychologists. The therapy sessions between Kathy and Robin felt real and authentic. I also felt the interactions between Kathy’s parents, and their emotions felt realistic.
This novel is a creative, complex, and well-paced tale with layers and twists that will keep a reader guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. There are some shocking and disturbing scenes as it unfolds. Additionally, the ending contains a surprise that caught me off-guard. Will you see it coming? Can Robin unlock Kathy’s secrets and help the police catch a serial killer? Themes include family, family relationships, murder, kidnapping, and much more.
Overall, this is an amazing but disturbing thriller, mystery, and police procedural with multiple points of view that has intense moments, therapy sessions, family drama, and some action that kept me turning the pages. I could see this becoming an excellent series featuring Robin Hart and Detective Nathaniel King. Mike Omer is a great storyteller and I can’t wait to read my next book by him.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was December 1, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.66 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
After fifteen months in captivity, young Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road barefoot. Traumatized by events, she won’t speak to anyone. Her parents take her to child therapist Robin Hart, who uses play therapy to connect with her. However, as the therapy continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a dark turn as figurines in the doll house die one by one and session after session. On top of this they resemble real unsolved murders. Can Robin help Kathy and help the police stop a serial killer?
Robin is sleep deprived, perceptive, loves her job, and is a great child psychologist. However, she can be emotional at times and feels a need to placate people who have authority or power. This made her relatable and realistic. Rather than being a perfect protagonist, she has faults just like everyone else. Kathy is traumatized by the events of her captivity, but she’s also intelligent, and will answer yes or no questions with a nod or a shake of her head.
The start of the novel is heart-wrenching and immediately pulled me into the story. While I don’t usually like flashback scenes, there were several in this novel that went back to the day of Kathy’s disappearance. The author handled the transitions well and they’re well identified. He also did a lot of research talking with family members who are psychologists. The therapy sessions between Kathy and Robin felt real and authentic. I also felt the interactions between Kathy’s parents, and their emotions felt realistic.
This novel is a creative, complex, and well-paced tale with layers and twists that will keep a reader guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. There are some shocking and disturbing scenes as it unfolds. Additionally, the ending contains a surprise that caught me off-guard. Will you see it coming? Can Robin unlock Kathy’s secrets and help the police catch a serial killer? Themes include family, family relationships, murder, kidnapping, and much more.
Overall, this is an amazing but disturbing thriller, mystery, and police procedural with multiple points of view that has intense moments, therapy sessions, family drama, and some action that kept me turning the pages. I could see this becoming an excellent series featuring Robin Hart and Detective Nathaniel King. Mike Omer is a great storyteller and I can’t wait to read my next book by him.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was December 1, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------------------
My 4.66 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
February 19, 2024
This had a disappointing end.
The novel begins with a child, Kathy Stone, escaping capture. She had disappeared for a year when she was found wandering around the road at night. Her parents are ecstatic to get her back but Kathy has been non-verbal since returning. Her mother knows she must get help and she believes the local child therapist, Robin Hart, can help her.
Robin followed the case of Kathy's shocking disappearance like the rest of the town. When Kathy's mother asks her to help her daughter, Robin can't say no and takes the case. Robin wants to help Kathy and her play sessions are usually quite successful. As Kathy starts trusting Robin, the therapy process, and her own safety, her reenactments become too real. It seems that Kathy is reenacting real murders!!
I have a few issues with the story and the characters.
Robin is supposed to be a great therapist but her relationship with her own mother is so dysfunctional and the whole thing with the dollhouse was nuts. Her behavior was beyond childish. You would think she would have learned some coping mechanisms to deal with her crazy mother.
The worst was where the story went at the end. In my opinion, the big reveal was too out there to be believable.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The novel begins with a child, Kathy Stone, escaping capture. She had disappeared for a year when she was found wandering around the road at night. Her parents are ecstatic to get her back but Kathy has been non-verbal since returning. Her mother knows she must get help and she believes the local child therapist, Robin Hart, can help her.
Robin followed the case of Kathy's shocking disappearance like the rest of the town. When Kathy's mother asks her to help her daughter, Robin can't say no and takes the case. Robin wants to help Kathy and her play sessions are usually quite successful. As Kathy starts trusting Robin, the therapy process, and her own safety, her reenactments become too real. It seems that Kathy is reenacting real murders!!
I have a few issues with the story and the characters.
Robin is supposed to be a great therapist but her relationship with her own mother is so dysfunctional and the whole thing with the dollhouse was nuts. Her behavior was beyond childish. You would think she would have learned some coping mechanisms to deal with her crazy mother.
The worst was where the story went at the end. In my opinion, the big reveal was too out there to be believable.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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April 21, 2023Please tell me……this isn’t about the pandemic? Please tell me it’s description, which sounds absolutely amazing, creepy and spine chilling, is worth reading through the many times COVID is mentioned in this book? Because I ‘really’ really ‘really’ want to read this and love it, but I do not want anything COVID or political in my fiction. God, I’m so bummed about this. I’m not rating this because I only read few chapters before I remembered I could search the book for keywords which is the first time I’ve ever used that Kindle feature. I did so after reading “COVID”, “pandemic”, “virus”, “isolation”, “masks” and “social distancing” within the first 3 chapters and I’m glad I did, but man I’m so bummed. That description of what this book is about is totally my thing so I dove into it right away, but it’s not my thing to be reading about COVID in my fiction. In non-fiction maybe, but I love the escape of reading so unfortunately it’s a DNF for me. I hope to read others reviews maybe saying that it’s not ‘about’ that. If it’s not the main plot point then I’d love to return to it.
November 10, 2023
When eight-year-old Kathy Stone turns up in the side of the road a year after her abduction, the world awaits her harrowing story. But Kathy doesn't say a word. Traumatised by her ordeal, she doesn't speak at all, not even to her parents. Child therapist Robin Hart is the only one that has success connecting with the girl. Robin has been using play therapy to help Kathy process her memories. But as their work continues, Kathy's playtime takes a grim turn: a doll looks to stab another doll, a tiny figurine is chained to a plastic toy couch. All of these terrifying moments, enacted within a Victorian doll house. Every session, another doll dies.
The pace is perfectly set. Each chapter seems to end in the middle of a dramatic scene, so I just had to reading to find out more. The story is told from multiple points of view, we even get the voice of the perpetrator. I really liked Robin, we learn of her sister, Melody, and the dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Kathy's mother, Claire - her story is told in the present day and flashbacks to when Kathy was abducted. It did take me a little while to get into this book, but once I was in, I was hooked.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Thomas&Mercer and the author #MikeOmer for my ARC of #PleaseTellMee in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is perfectly set. Each chapter seems to end in the middle of a dramatic scene, so I just had to reading to find out more. The story is told from multiple points of view, we even get the voice of the perpetrator. I really liked Robin, we learn of her sister, Melody, and the dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Kathy's mother, Claire - her story is told in the present day and flashbacks to when Kathy was abducted. It did take me a little while to get into this book, but once I was in, I was hooked.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Thomas&Mercer and the author #MikeOmer for my ARC of #PleaseTellMee in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2023
Absolutely 4.5 stars! I literally started this tonight and stayed up til 3am to finish it. Such a gripping novel! Mike Omer knows how to keep readers guessing and wanting more! Truly brilliant writing style that makes you feel like you're part of the story and trying to guess who the bad guy is. So many twists I didn't see coming with a shocking ending! So glad I finally read this one from my TBR!
March 14, 2024
Lately there seems to be a bunch of thriller novels involving a therapist as a key character. Mike Omer's Please Tell Me is among those that stood out for me. It's about a child therapist working with a girl who was abducted, and in the process, finding clues about a series of missing person cases.
This was a terrific Amazon First Read choice. I enjoyed the author's writing style and look forward to checking out his other novels.
This was a terrific Amazon First Read choice. I enjoyed the author's writing style and look forward to checking out his other novels.
December 18, 2023
Well written, disturbing, story of a young girl who escapes a kidnapper and the therapist who treats her. There are some twists in the plot which were well placed and somewhat surprising.
December 3, 2023
Covid had a bigger villain story than the actual villain.
July 13, 2025
Trochę za dużo obyczaju w stosunku do "mięsa". No i końcówka - zamotałam się i odpłynęłam; niby nie wytypowałam zamaskowanego złola, choć w ostatecznym rozrachunku było to dość proste.
Aleee... To Mike Omer. Lubimy się. Sam powrót do audiobooków po dwumiesięcznej przerwie też niczego sobie ("25 rok życia to najwyższy czas na korzystanie z dobrodziejstw słuchawek bezprzewodowych" - o losie, czemu nie pomyślałam o tym wcześniej??)
Aleee... To Mike Omer. Lubimy się. Sam powrót do audiobooków po dwumiesięcznej przerwie też niczego sobie ("25 rok życia to najwyższy czas na korzystanie z dobrodziejstw słuchawek bezprzewodowych" - o losie, czemu nie pomyślałam o tym wcześniej??)
May 27, 2024
Four stars for Mike Omer’s Please Tell Me! Yet again, Omer delivers an entertaining thriller (and there have not been many thrillers lately that have been entertaining so that is a huge win). This was my pick for my local Thriller Book club at Roebling Books and I am hoping that none of our members will be disappointed!
I feel super safe saying this was entertaining because I am currently jonesing to read A Court of Wings and Ruin but had to take an ACOTAR break to ensure I did not look like an idiot not reading the book club read (that I chose lol). I thought this book would draaagggggg on as I threw a tantrum to read what I wanted to read but it did not! I read this in one sitting! Dirty dishes, yup. Hungry kids, yup. My kids know that I only neglect them for a good book (total joke… mostly).
Summery: Robin Hart is a child therapist responsible for helping little Kathy who has escaped her kidnapper after fifteen months. This client will not be easy because Kathy came back with no want to verbally speak. Robin who is only concerned with helping Kathy deal with the trauma faces backlash from the community because they believe Robin should be focused on finding who kidnapped her and not making Kathy relive the trauma. Robin struggles with her family issues while trying her best to ignore society while she helps Kathy feel safer in this tragic world. But as the reader we do want to find out who took Kathy and what happened to her… Can Robin uncover Kathy’s trauma through play? Read to find out/
Read my inner thoughts here
March 22, 2024
Always pleased to read another novel by Mike Omer, I grabbed his latest psychological thriller in hopes of a great experience. Omer develops a dark story that is full of pieces, though none of them appear to fit together with ease. As the story progresses, things begin to slowly make sense and the ordeal a small girl makes a little more sense to those who are trying to help. Omer delivers once more and kept me hooked until the final pages.
The day Kathy Stone disappeared caused panic for the entire community. Thirteen months later, when the eight-year-old was seen wandering on the side of the road, new panic gripped the town, as no one as quite she what Kathy had seen. Kathy remains silent, speaking to no one at all, which means there is surely some deep trauma that will have to be coaxed out slowly.
After taking Kathy to see child therapist, Robin Hart, there appears to be some progress, albeit baby steps. Through the use of play therapy, Robin has been able to get Kathy to hint at some of her memories while in captivity. Play time turns quite dark as the dolls Kathy uses show signs if being chained up, slashed, and at times, even tortured to the point of death. Each session beings a new memory to the surface and another doll perishes under Kathy’s guidance.
The most chilling aspect of all, each of Kathy’s play sessions appears to enact an unsolved murder in the surrounding communities, as though she has witnessed them. She could be a goldmine for the police to solve these cases, but Robin keeps her client under strict protection, keeping the truth from traumatising the little girl too much. Might Kathy hold the key to solving these murders and perhaps be able to tell of future events that could be stopped? Robin has a decision to make and one that she does not take lightly. Mike Omer sends chills up the spine of the reader in this one that is sure to keep the pages turning.
When Mike Omer writes, I take notice. I discovered the author a few years ago and have been impressed with his work. The narrative base is always well developed and keeps the reader in the centre of the action. As things progress, the story’s momentum gains traction and the energy follows suit soon thereafter. With great characters and strong settings, Omer is able to build up a strong flavoring in his story that appeals to many.
In a story such as this one, plot twists make or break the novel. Omer knows how to use them effectively, while also teasing out the unpredictable nature of their use to further the plot. The reader is in for a treat with this piece, which offers some eerie insights as things progress and the truth finally comes out. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Mike Omer!
Kudos, Mr. Omer, for impressing me once more.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The day Kathy Stone disappeared caused panic for the entire community. Thirteen months later, when the eight-year-old was seen wandering on the side of the road, new panic gripped the town, as no one as quite she what Kathy had seen. Kathy remains silent, speaking to no one at all, which means there is surely some deep trauma that will have to be coaxed out slowly.
After taking Kathy to see child therapist, Robin Hart, there appears to be some progress, albeit baby steps. Through the use of play therapy, Robin has been able to get Kathy to hint at some of her memories while in captivity. Play time turns quite dark as the dolls Kathy uses show signs if being chained up, slashed, and at times, even tortured to the point of death. Each session beings a new memory to the surface and another doll perishes under Kathy’s guidance.
The most chilling aspect of all, each of Kathy’s play sessions appears to enact an unsolved murder in the surrounding communities, as though she has witnessed them. She could be a goldmine for the police to solve these cases, but Robin keeps her client under strict protection, keeping the truth from traumatising the little girl too much. Might Kathy hold the key to solving these murders and perhaps be able to tell of future events that could be stopped? Robin has a decision to make and one that she does not take lightly. Mike Omer sends chills up the spine of the reader in this one that is sure to keep the pages turning.
When Mike Omer writes, I take notice. I discovered the author a few years ago and have been impressed with his work. The narrative base is always well developed and keeps the reader in the centre of the action. As things progress, the story’s momentum gains traction and the energy follows suit soon thereafter. With great characters and strong settings, Omer is able to build up a strong flavoring in his story that appeals to many.
In a story such as this one, plot twists make or break the novel. Omer knows how to use them effectively, while also teasing out the unpredictable nature of their use to further the plot. The reader is in for a treat with this piece, which offers some eerie insights as things progress and the truth finally comes out. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Mike Omer!
Kudos, Mr. Omer, for impressing me once more.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 2, 2023
I was delighted when I received this ARC as I have liked all the other books by Mike Omer. But my delight was short lived. Did Mike Omer really write this? His writing was humorous in all books in the Abbey Mullen, Zoe Bentley and Glenmore Park series. But I found this book was bland. The plot has been done to death in many other thrillers I have read. The book was too long with unnecessary details about social media and a constant reminder of Covid.
The characters had nothing to make them likeable. Robin was the most annoying. She was a therapist, but she had so many issues herself. The reasons for her anxiety apparently because of her mother is still not clear to me. Her therapy sessions were creepy when she verbally tells what the child is doing. "Now you have paint all over your hand. you decide where it goes" The character of the kidnapped girl Kathy was also hard to believe. She was stuck dumb because of the trauma due to her long period of captivity. But she was too expressive drawing everything vividly she had seen, that too from the very first session.
Then the unnecessary romance angle. And the stupid killer. This was a huge disappointment.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
The characters had nothing to make them likeable. Robin was the most annoying. She was a therapist, but she had so many issues herself. The reasons for her anxiety apparently because of her mother is still not clear to me. Her therapy sessions were creepy when she verbally tells what the child is doing. "Now you have paint all over your hand. you decide where it goes" The character of the kidnapped girl Kathy was also hard to believe. She was stuck dumb because of the trauma due to her long period of captivity. But she was too expressive drawing everything vividly she had seen, that too from the very first session.
Then the unnecessary romance angle. And the stupid killer. This was a huge disappointment.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
December 1, 2023
I wanted to like this and it started off with promise. But my God, did it get boring fast. Was the assignment to take the thrill out of thriller? Lots of unnecessary stuff, a childish and warped "therapist," other characters the author failed to make me give a damn about, and simply not enough to keep me interested. I had to stop at about halfway through, surprised I'd held out that long.
January 29, 2024
Rounded up from 1.5 stars to 2. Nothing happened? Most of the book was in the description of the book. The characters aggravated me. Like what?
April 29, 2023
I cant really give a full review because I just couldn't stick it and ended up DNF. I didn't mind the writing style. It was a bit wordy for my personal taste but I was fascinated by the premise so wanted to keep going. But...... Nothing ever seemed to happen?! I'm all for the slow burn but as much as I read, it's all about these random women who I have no interest in and I was unbelievably bored so decided it wasn't worth it. Maybe it does finally get better and actually get on with the story but for me it just dragged so badly, and with a completely pointless sub plot. A d that was even after the child was found and reunited with her mum...... it just didn't engage me at all and felt like absolutely nothing was happening. I'm sure for those who like a slow burn and who prefer a writing style that is more waffley the this might be a winner
November 14, 2023
The story itself would’ve been 2.5 stars, but I rounded down bc all the social media & COVID references did nothing but distract from the story. The romance part of it was also odd and unnecessary. It’s really more like 1.5 stars.
Also I still don’t really understand the motive of the guilty parties here. Sure the one guy was a psychotic pervert, but Ellie? She seemed like a generally normal person & we saw so little of her. Could’ve used some more explanation as to why she would participate in gruesome murders.
Also I still don’t really understand the motive of the guilty parties here. Sure the one guy was a psychotic pervert, but Ellie? She seemed like a generally normal person & we saw so little of her. Could’ve used some more explanation as to why she would participate in gruesome murders.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2023
I begged and pleaded for Please Tell Me . Never in my life did I think I would get the early approval from netgalley, but here we are .
I like to believe I read books in a priority order of release date but let’s be serious, that would be a bold face lie . I’m a mood reader, I read what I want, when I want, and when a long awaited book pops up with an approval email. I skip the line like a 5th grader and read the book.
I had to mentally prepare myself for this one . I had pined after this one for so long I needed to make sure I could appreciate each page in entirety.
I’ve never made it a secret that children scare the crap out of me so a book like this is sheer terrifying for me and I loved every minute of it. There is no way you could anticipate the ending but this book right here sure is a doozy.
Do your thing, pre-order the book and count down the days until December 1, 2023z
Teaser :
After a year in captivity, a kidnapped child escapes—only to reveal horrific truths that lead her psychologist on a race against time in this thriller from New York Times bestselling author Mike Omer.
When eight-year-old Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road a year after her abduction, the world awaits her harrowing story. But Kathy doesn’t say a word. Traumatized by her ordeal, she doesn’t speak at all, not even to her own parents.
Child therapist Robin Hart is the only one who’s had success connecting with the girl. Robin has been using play therapy to help Kathy process her memories. But as their work continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a grim turn: a doll stabs another doll, a tiny figurine is chained to a plastic toy couch. All of these horrifying moments, enacted within a Victorian doll house. Every session, another toy dies.
But the most disturbing detail? Kathy seems to be playacting real unsolved murders.
Soon Robin wonders if Kathy not only holds the key to the murders of the past but if she knows something about the murders of the future. Can Robin unlock the secrets in Kathy’s brain and stop a serial killer before he strikes again? Or is Robin’s work with Kathy putting her in the killer’s sights?
I like to believe I read books in a priority order of release date but let’s be serious, that would be a bold face lie . I’m a mood reader, I read what I want, when I want, and when a long awaited book pops up with an approval email. I skip the line like a 5th grader and read the book.
I had to mentally prepare myself for this one . I had pined after this one for so long I needed to make sure I could appreciate each page in entirety.
I’ve never made it a secret that children scare the crap out of me so a book like this is sheer terrifying for me and I loved every minute of it. There is no way you could anticipate the ending but this book right here sure is a doozy.
Do your thing, pre-order the book and count down the days until December 1, 2023z
Teaser :
After a year in captivity, a kidnapped child escapes—only to reveal horrific truths that lead her psychologist on a race against time in this thriller from New York Times bestselling author Mike Omer.
When eight-year-old Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road a year after her abduction, the world awaits her harrowing story. But Kathy doesn’t say a word. Traumatized by her ordeal, she doesn’t speak at all, not even to her own parents.
Child therapist Robin Hart is the only one who’s had success connecting with the girl. Robin has been using play therapy to help Kathy process her memories. But as their work continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a grim turn: a doll stabs another doll, a tiny figurine is chained to a plastic toy couch. All of these horrifying moments, enacted within a Victorian doll house. Every session, another toy dies.
But the most disturbing detail? Kathy seems to be playacting real unsolved murders.
Soon Robin wonders if Kathy not only holds the key to the murders of the past but if she knows something about the murders of the future. Can Robin unlock the secrets in Kathy’s brain and stop a serial killer before he strikes again? Or is Robin’s work with Kathy putting her in the killer’s sights?
January 1, 2024
What does anyone do when all the clues to a serial killer and his crimes, are firmly locked inside the brain of a child unable to speak. How do you treat a 9-year-old who escaped from a kidnapper 15- long months after he kidnapped her and has ever since, gone mute? Kathy Stone’s mother is lucky enough to have an old friend, Robin Hart, who’s a child therapist. Robin begins having sessions with Kathy, watching her play with figures in a dollhouse. This affirms what's trapped in Kathy's mind as Robin watches and pays close attention to the scenes that Kathy is creating. There is nothing to do but wait for the child to work through the trauma that’s rendered her completely speechless. As the sessions go on, Kathy’s "games" suggest that her memories are intertwined with the murder of Haley Parks, who was stabbed and hanged in Clark State Forest two weeks earlier. Now Robin faces a dilemma. She wants to share this information with Police Detective. Nathaniel King, of the Indianapolis Police Department, but she can’t and won't, violate her bond of confidentiality with her small patient, even though Kathy’s father, Pete, is eager to have the police question her and get this over with. Kathy doesn’t regain her voice, but as she begins to act out a wider range of extremely violent fantasies and Robin realizes that she’s recreating the scenes of several other murders...including at least one that didn’t take place until after Kathy was rescued. Whatever she witnessed during the 15 months of her captivity is understandable, but how can she possibly predict a crime that hadn’t happened yet? The author shifts gears from one set of riddles and anxieties to the next, keeping the tension high enough to make you read just one more chapter. This is the first book I have reviewed in 2024 and I thank the author, Mike Omer for making it a 5-star read.
October 19, 2023
A unique plot and one I was invested in from the beginning. However, between the therapists issues and the actual issues this was too much. I enjoyed the plot and found it to be incredibly interesting. But there was so much going on with everybody in the book that I was experiencing sensory overload. I enjoyed the ending but frankly, was really glad it was done. Just… too much.
November 2, 2023
glad it was free
How many times d authors have to use covid or woke garbage in the books? It would be nice to read a book without political agenda in every sentence .
How many times d authors have to use covid or woke garbage in the books? It would be nice to read a book without political agenda in every sentence .
January 7, 2024
A gripping thriller that explores dealing with trauma, narcissistic parents and a sadistic twist. Easy to read, and truly a page turner. Kept me guessing til the end!
March 17, 2024
Please Tell Me is my first time reading Mike Omer, but it will certainly not be my last! In fact, I just added every single one of his books to my want-to-read shelf, and I can tell he is going to be a new favorite. This book was extremely dark and had quite a few different viewpoints, but it was generally easy to keep them all straight. The various viewpoints provide the reader with different aspects of the story, and it makes it feel like we get a little bit of everything with our thriller. It is a mystery as well of course, but also a bit of a police procedural and we have a dash of the serial killer's POV. Robin the child psychologist is our main viewpoint and I loved her more and more as the book went on.
I also have to give props to the audiobook narrator Marcella Cox. For the number of POVs in Please Tell Me I should have needed/wanted a full cast, but Cox did such a great job that I didn't end up feeling that way at all. I think this also says something about the writing, and I was impressed that Omer could write something that complex but also easy to follow along with as well. Despite the twistiness of the storyline, and my being 100% into what was happening, it did feel like something was missing but I couldn't tell you what it was. In theory, this should have been a 5-star read for me, but it did fall a bit short which could totally have been due to my mood as well. I think fewer viewpoints would have been helpful to keep the tension high, but overall, this was a very solid and engrossing read that I would recommend to thriller and mystery lovers. I would just make sure to check triggers before picking it up.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I also have to give props to the audiobook narrator Marcella Cox. For the number of POVs in Please Tell Me I should have needed/wanted a full cast, but Cox did such a great job that I didn't end up feeling that way at all. I think this also says something about the writing, and I was impressed that Omer could write something that complex but also easy to follow along with as well. Despite the twistiness of the storyline, and my being 100% into what was happening, it did feel like something was missing but I couldn't tell you what it was. In theory, this should have been a 5-star read for me, but it did fall a bit short which could totally have been due to my mood as well. I think fewer viewpoints would have been helpful to keep the tension high, but overall, this was a very solid and engrossing read that I would recommend to thriller and mystery lovers. I would just make sure to check triggers before picking it up.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 5, 2025
Tenía expectativas moderadas con este libro, he de decir que nos es el thriller de mi vida pero sí es entretenido y desde mi punto de vista nada predecible.
January 12, 2025
The book starts with someone seeing a little girl standing on the side of the road late at night. The girl is covered in scratches and is very cold and lost. The little girl is Kathy, who is 9 years old and has been missing from her home for nine months. Terrific start to this story but it ended up with a middle that dragged and sub-stories that took away from the suspense.
When Kathy is returned home she refuses to speak and her parents take her to child psychologist Robin Hart. Robin is the main character in the book and has an unusual style of therapy which involves describing everything Kathy is doing ('You are putting paint on your hands, you are washing off paint from your hands). These descriptions became tedious and i couldn't understand how it would help Kathy become more verbal. Kathy does begin to act out creepy scenes with the toys and dollhouse and Robin contacts a police officer to help understand what Kathy is saying.
If the book had stayed tight to Robin and the police decoding Kathy's playacting this could have been a terrific mystery book. But there is a lot of pages dedicated to Robin's dysfunctional relationship with her mother, and to various characters such as Robin's. sister, ex-husband etc. I also have to point out that many male authors seem to0 use names for characters that don't fit the times such as a nine year old Kathy, when it is easy to Google what names were popular ten years ago.
The bad guys are a surprise only because we weren't given clues to lead us in their direction. I did enjoy the idea of figuring out the meaning of Kathy's playacting with the dolls and I liked Nathaniel as a character. Robin seemed to be too emotionally fragile to handle her job though and I would have liked less of her battles with her mother.
When Kathy is returned home she refuses to speak and her parents take her to child psychologist Robin Hart. Robin is the main character in the book and has an unusual style of therapy which involves describing everything Kathy is doing ('You are putting paint on your hands, you are washing off paint from your hands). These descriptions became tedious and i couldn't understand how it would help Kathy become more verbal. Kathy does begin to act out creepy scenes with the toys and dollhouse and Robin contacts a police officer to help understand what Kathy is saying.
If the book had stayed tight to Robin and the police decoding Kathy's playacting this could have been a terrific mystery book. But there is a lot of pages dedicated to Robin's dysfunctional relationship with her mother, and to various characters such as Robin's. sister, ex-husband etc. I also have to point out that many male authors seem to0 use names for characters that don't fit the times such as a nine year old Kathy, when it is easy to Google what names were popular ten years ago.
The bad guys are a surprise only because we weren't given clues to lead us in their direction. I did enjoy the idea of figuring out the meaning of Kathy's playacting with the dolls and I liked Nathaniel as a character. Robin seemed to be too emotionally fragile to handle her job though and I would have liked less of her battles with her mother.
Read
January 24, 2024For a book that’s not about COVID, it sure does mention it an awful lot.
This book is boring and the therapist is immature as hell. She says things that make it seem like she’s still in high school. “When Robin was Ellie’s age, it had been almost unthinkable for a chubby girl like Ellie to wear horizontal stripes, which, everyone back then agreed, made you look fat. But Ellie seemed like she couldn’t care less.” Wtf was the point of that sentence???
I’ve read reviews from other readers and it sounds like the “twist” isn’t all that exciting. Also, I’ve read how the therapist does more stupid, immature things so I’m dnfing this book at 13%, which is why I’m not rating it.
This book is boring and the therapist is immature as hell. She says things that make it seem like she’s still in high school. “When Robin was Ellie’s age, it had been almost unthinkable for a chubby girl like Ellie to wear horizontal stripes, which, everyone back then agreed, made you look fat. But Ellie seemed like she couldn’t care less.” Wtf was the point of that sentence???
I’ve read reviews from other readers and it sounds like the “twist” isn’t all that exciting. Also, I’ve read how the therapist does more stupid, immature things so I’m dnfing this book at 13%, which is why I’m not rating it.
February 2, 2025
Please Tell Me is not my favorite book by Mike Omer, but it was still a fairly enjoyable read, with a twist I didn't see coming.
The story is told from multiple POVs, but the majority of the book is from Robin's perspective. Robin is a child psychologist, and her specialty is play therapy.
When 9-year-old Kathy turns up some 15 months after she went missing, Robin begins working with the little girl to heal her trauma. Kathy, who's selectively mute, starts enacting some terrifying scenes with toy figures, and Robin discovers a connection between the scenes and recent grizzly murders.
The main thing I didn't like is how often the author mentioned the pandemic. It was all over this book, and I'm not okay with that. I realize Omer probably wrote this book during lockdown or soon after, but I read fiction to escape and do not need to be reminded of the Covid shitshow in my novels. The majority of authors have stayed far away from the topic, for which I'm enterally grateful.
A couple other niggles:
At one point, Robin .
Needless to say, Robin feels like shit. But when her love interest, the detective on the case, drives her home, she takes a shower and then puts on ... wait for it ... a tight-fitting shirt, plaid skirt, and makeup. MAKEUP!
LMAO The hell she does. No woman in the history of EVER is going to put on a fucking skirt, clingy top, and face paint in her own home, 24 hours after suffering severe trauma. What we want are sweatpants, hoodies, sweaters, blankets. Obviously, a man wrote this book because NO.
Also, I didn't quite believe that Kathy, who's 9, not 3, wouldn't have at the very least told her parents who kidnapped her. She wasn't talking, but she could have mimed it, written down the name, drawn a picture, SOMETHING.
Even when she sees . Granted I'm not a child psychologist, but this didn't make sense to me.
So, yeah, I had some issues with the story. The writing was a little simplistic, which is not at all what I've come to expect from this author. But the pacing was good, and I never got bored.
The story is told from multiple POVs, but the majority of the book is from Robin's perspective. Robin is a child psychologist, and her specialty is play therapy.
When 9-year-old Kathy turns up some 15 months after she went missing, Robin begins working with the little girl to heal her trauma. Kathy, who's selectively mute, starts enacting some terrifying scenes with toy figures, and Robin discovers a connection between the scenes and recent grizzly murders.
The main thing I didn't like is how often the author mentioned the pandemic. It was all over this book, and I'm not okay with that. I realize Omer probably wrote this book during lockdown or soon after, but I read fiction to escape and do not need to be reminded of the Covid shitshow in my novels. The majority of authors have stayed far away from the topic, for which I'm enterally grateful.
A couple other niggles:
At one point, Robin .
Needless to say, Robin feels like shit. But when her love interest, the detective on the case, drives her home, she takes a shower and then puts on ... wait for it ... a tight-fitting shirt, plaid skirt, and makeup. MAKEUP!
LMAO The hell she does. No woman in the history of EVER is going to put on a fucking skirt, clingy top, and face paint in her own home, 24 hours after suffering severe trauma. What we want are sweatpants, hoodies, sweaters, blankets. Obviously, a man wrote this book because NO.
Also, I didn't quite believe that Kathy, who's 9, not 3, wouldn't have at the very least told her parents who kidnapped her. She wasn't talking, but she could have mimed it, written down the name, drawn a picture, SOMETHING.
Even when she sees . Granted I'm not a child psychologist, but this didn't make sense to me.
So, yeah, I had some issues with the story. The writing was a little simplistic, which is not at all what I've come to expect from this author. But the pacing was good, and I never got bored.
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